Black Magic vs Illusive Green

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Black Magic reads as grey, while Illusive Green reads as green-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 29 vs 3, Illusive Green will read as the brighter of the two — a 26-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a neutral quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 40.8, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Black Magic vs Illusive Green in Real Spaces

7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Magic and Illusive Green in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Living Room

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Illusive Green returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Black MagicSW Black Magic living room paint review

@jillysue317

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Living Room

@mybudgetrecipes

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Illusive Green will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

Black MagicSW 6991 bedroom accent wall

@interiors_kdm

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Bedroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Illusive Green will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

Black MagicSW Black Magic kitchen island

@redrosesandrust

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Kitchen

@mybudgetrecipes

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Illusive Green will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

Black MagicSherwin Williams SW 6991 bathroom photo

@walnutandpinedesign

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Illusive Green will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

Black MagicSherwin Williams SW 6991 exterior paint

@cambridgeclassichomes

Illusive GreenIllusive Green House

@mybudgetrecipes

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Illusive Green returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Black MagicSW 6991 front door

@inspiringaccents

Illusive GreenIllusive Green Front Door

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Illusive Green will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

Black MagicSW 6991 kitchen cabinets paint

@rosewoodcustombuilders

Illusive GreenSW Illusive Green kitchen cabinets interior idea

@customcarebycaleb

Color Details

Black Magic
Sherwin-Williams · 6991
Hex#323132
LRV3.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6991
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Illusive Green
Sherwin-Williams · 9164
Hex#92948D
LRV29.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9164
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Black Magic vs Illusive Green Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Magic on one side and Illusive Green on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More Black Magic comparisons

See how Black Magic stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Black Magic
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Black Magic
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Black Magic
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Purbeck Stone
Black Magic
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Black Magic
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Black Magic
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Black Magic
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Black Magic
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Black Magic
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Black Magic
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Black Magic
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Black Magic
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Black Magic
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Pine Needle reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Black Magic
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Black Magic
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Black grey reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Black Magic
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Black Magic
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Black Magic
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane is the lighter choice

Senses
Black Magic
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Black Magic
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Nearly identical in tone

Washed Linen
Black Magic
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Black Magic
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Black Magic
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Black Magic
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Ocean Abyss reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Black Magic
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Black Magic
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Black Magic
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Black Magic
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Black Magic
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Black Magic
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter